🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,683 in Gallup, NM.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $3,857 in Gallup, NM.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $5,030 in Gallup, NM.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 61% less than in Gallup, NM, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Gallup, NM is 100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$19.89$19.89
-70.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$61.2$61.2
-46.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$12.05$12.05
-40.25%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$6.08$6.08
-72.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$2.81$2.81
-60.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$2.19$2.19
-67.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$6.40$6.40
-73.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$7.21$7.21
-57.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.14$1.14
-7.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$3.99$3.99
-68.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$3.38$3.38
-58.88%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$4.95$4.95
-54.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$16.25$16.25
-73.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$16.02$16.02
-63.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$19.58$19.58
-54.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$5.80$5.80
-61.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.31$1.31
-17.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$6.78$6.78
-77.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$6.04$6.04
-77.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$5.62$5.62
-79.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$2.56$2.56
-56.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.46$1.46
-41.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$2.38$2.38
-61.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$9.57$9.57
-75.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$12.90$12.90
-13.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$2.03$2.03
-41.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$4.18$4.18
-43.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.04$2.04
-61.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$3.52$3.52
-59.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.78$1.78
7.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$29.59$29.59
-72.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.78$0.78
20.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$28.9K$28.9K
-37.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$29.0K$29.0K
-7.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$199$199
-57.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$44.79$44.79
-78.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$50.3$50.3
-51.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$43.06$43.06
-39.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$15.13$15.13
-74.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$984$984
-68.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$15.4K$15.4K
-61.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$49.24$49.24
17.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$58.1$58.1
-45.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$86.8$86.8
15.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$108$108
-1.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$1,009$1,009
-51.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$1,368$1,368
-73.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,820$1,820
-54.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$2,184$2,184
-67.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,699$2,699
8.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$2,412$2,412
-41.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gallup, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$2,437$2,437
-77.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5
168.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gallup, NM: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $1,009 in Gallup, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gallup, NM pays 347% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $61.0 in Gallup, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $467 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Gallup, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gallup, NM cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Gallup, NM?
On paper, Gallup, NM earns 347% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Gallup, NM?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $1,009 in Gallup, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $984 in Gallup, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Gallup, NM?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $61.0 in Gallup, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Gallup, NM?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,683 in Gallup, NM, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Gallup, NM. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Gallup, NM more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gallup, NM, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Gallup, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.